Roxanne Steed's Painting a Day

For the love of paint! Small landscapes, tablescapes, peoplescapes in oil.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Happy Ten Year Blogiversary to Me (and to you!)

After ten years, it's time to update the "Daily Painter" thing. I do paint every day, but don't finish one each day any more. I've taken on way more challenging pieces, and added some new things that I love doing- which includes teaching painters! I'll transfer my subscriber list over to my new blog, www.roxannesteed.com/blog - which also has a new name, "Who Says Oil and Water Don't Mix". My intention is for it to be an 'artist's life-style' blog - I do hope you'll follow along!

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year 2017! - Studio Classes Starting this Month!

Wishing you a happy, lovely year! May there be love, flowers and a bit of sparkle in there, too.

I did stay up after midnight, just to finish my first sketch of the new year! These narcissus paperwhites have reached over 2 feet in height in just about that many weeks! No wonder they drink so much water!

Studio classes start up on the 17th of January at my home studio in Mystic, CT. There is still a space for you!! Check this link to see the options and what might fit you best!

Also in the works for this year - weekend workshops in my studio.....annnnnnd another trip to Ireland in June! The puffins will be there! I hope you'll plan on joining us. Details soon.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Fall Color on the Connecticut River in Old Lyme

I've just returned from a Leslie Saeta workshop in Waco, TX in time to see the last bit of New England color! During our week of studying marketing with Leslie, we endured - (umm, actually ENJOYED) temps in the low 80s...while back home they actually had snow flurries mid-week! It felt great to wear sandals in November! What an amazing time we had! Our workshop was held at the Magnolia House B&B built by Chip and Joanna Gaines of the HGTV Fixer-Upper show. I have just become aware of them this year when one of my galleries and I were chatting about "industrial farmhouse" style favored by Chip and Joanna of "Fixer Upper" fame. But I'll share more of my trip with you on my next post! I promise! Today and yesterday I've been out hiking in the glorious woods of fall color! It's just past the peak (omg, I almost missed it!). The days are so much shorter and the sun much lower in the sky. But the trees...oh they are wonderful. This one was painted on location by the Connecticut River, but I also like to paint in watercolor in my sketchbook, and then work up an oil painting from that as well.

I do love returning to my favorite sites over and over again to see what each season brings!

This black frame really complements this painting!

I love how it looks with Stickley furniture!

Here's a side view for you! Contact me if you think this would look great in your home!

If paintings aren't in your budget right now(I do offer interest free layaway), I also have this image available in my 2017 calendar, by clicking right here.

Friday, October 21, 2016

ACEO - Red Zinnias - A Fine Summer Bounty

ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) original oil painting

2 ½ x 3 ½ inches

oil on ⅛ inch archival canvas • gloss varnish (UV protective)

sold unframed

This painting, "A Fine Summer Bounty" - painted from life- zinnias from my garden! - These are set up in my studio to paint. When the weather gets dicey, I love to set up flowers and arrange the lighting like a stage set for my still life paintings! I'm getting close to the season where most of my flowers will come from the florist or grocery store!

These ACEOs are available at auction on ebay! You'll find them by clicking here.

You can also find my other floral paintings in my "Online Flower and Garden Show" by clicking here! I do hope you enjoy the 'show'!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

ACEO - Roses for Love

ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) original oil painting

2 ½ x 3 ½ inches

oil on ⅛ inch archival canvas • gloss varnish (UV protective)

sold unframed

This painting, "Roses for Love" - painted from life- roses from my garden! - I love painting flowers in the sunlight. The cast shadows bring as much drama as the golden sunlit areas! I'm getting close to the season where most of my flowers will come from the florist or grocery store!

Monday, October 17, 2016

ACEOs "Window Warmth" sunflowers and zinnias in my studio window

ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) original oil painting

2 ½ x 3 ½ inches

oil on ⅛ inch archival canvas • gloss varnish (UV protective)

sold unframed

This painting, "Window Warmth" - painted from life- of a big bouquet of sunflowers and zinnias in my studio window - I love painting flowers in the sunlight (whether they are indoors or outside. The cast shadows bring as much fun to paint as the golden sunlit areas! I'm trying to get in all the painting time I can before frost hits us here in southeastern Connecticut and zaps the last of my flowers!

Saturday, October 15, 2016

ACEOs - Iris Stand - purple swoon-worthy swath of color!

ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) original oil painting

2 ½ x 3 ½ inches

oil on ⅛ inch archival canvas • gloss varnish (UV protective)

sold unframed

Second in the series of 10 ACEOs, I'm always thrilled to see a large planting of these together. As an individual flower, the golden yellow fuzzy throats are so incredible! Simply hard to resist! This collectible piece is available at auction on Ebay right here.

ACEOs are back! "She Loves The Sun" - Sunflowers!

ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) original oil painting

2 ½ x 3 ½ inches

oil on ⅛ inch archival canvas • gloss varnish (UV protective)

sold unframed

This painting, "She Loves The Sun" - painted from life- of a big bouquet of sunflowers on my back patio table- I love painting flowers in the sunlight. The cast shadows bring as much drama as the golden sunlit areas!

These little ACEOs have been requested since I painted the last series of them, last fall. So here they are again, in time for gift giving season....or for your own collection. I recently met a new friend who collects ACEOs of all her favorite artists, and keeps them in a lovely ornate box...a box of her treasures. What a lovely idea! Other collectors have commissioned coordinating series (of hydrangeas) and had them beautifully framed as a set. Lots of wonderful ideas with these little gems. I've finished five of these so far in the series of ten! Available at auction on ebay, as part of my current online "Flower and Garden Show".

About Me

Home schooling my daughters encouraged me to renew my childhood love of art. "Mom, teach us to draw" became the motivation to rededicate myself to drawing and painting. As a Navy wife for over twenty-five years, I have been able to live in some of the most beautiful towns on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as travel to Hawaii, Singapore, Italy, France, England and Ireland. I've pursued my formal art education along the way at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT; The Art League School in Alexandria, VA; and Watts Atelier in Encinitas, CA.

I find the textural quality of paint an exciting element of painting as much as design, composition, and color. Evoking an emotional response to a 'sense of place' is a great thrill for me. I use palette knife by itself or in a combination with a variety of brushes to reach my desired aim in my paintings.

What do I love in a painting? One that is compositionally strong - that will draw me in from across the room....rewarding me when I am close up to it with an interesting finish; a wow-factor of that last wonderful detail. Done, but not "done to death".